“When one reduces the dimensions of the divine revelation concerning mankind, one thereby excludes the possibility of attaining true repentance. If men regard themselves only as weak beings, they permit and condone a multitude of transgressions. Because they are thinking of themselves as inferior to Christ, people then refuse- and let this not appear a strange exaggeration- to follow Him truly to Golgotha. To abase in our consciousness our Creator's plan for mankind is not a proof of humility, but an error and even a great sin. We must have the courage to approach the content of divine revelation 'with face uncovered', and 'beholding the glory of the Lord', be 'changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord' [2 Cor. 3:18]” SinHumilityRedemptionGod S Love Book:Truth and Life Source: Truth and Life
“Contemporary man has not been able to organize his life in such a way as to allow himself sufficient leisure- free time- for prayer and the contemplation of Divine Being. The reason for this is covetousness, that passion which St. Paul called 'idolatry' and St. John Climacus 'the daughter of unbelief ... blasphemy against the Gospel, a turning aside from God'. True Christian 'poverty' is unknown and uncomprehend by the world. And if we go on to say that this spirit of non-acquisition grows and develops until it embraces not only the material but 'intellectual' possessions too, to the majority of people this will seem madness. Men regard their learning as spiritual riches, not suspecting the existence of a higher knowledge and riches quite incomparable, since they bring with them a deep peace. In pursuing material comfort men have lost spiritual comfort. The materialistic dynamism which dominates our century is rapidly acquiring a demoniacal character; which is not surprising, since it is nothing else but the dynamics of sin.” SinMaterialismModernityDemonicSpiritualism Book:Truth and Life Source: Truth and Life
“To apprehend sin in oneself is a spiritual act, impossible without grace, without the drawing near to us of Divine Light. The initial effect of the approach of this mysterious Light is that we see where we stand ‘spiritually’ at the particular moment. The first manifestations of this Uncreated Light do not allow us to experience it as light. It shines in a secret way, illuminating the black darkness of our inner world to disclose a spectacle that is far from joyous for us in our normal state of fallen being. We feel a burning sensation. This is the beginning of real contemplation — which has nothing in common with intellectual or philosophical contemplation. We become accurately conscious of sin as a sundering from the ontological source of our being. Our spirit is eternal but now we see ourselves as prisoners of death. With death waiting at the end, another thousand years of life would seem but a deceptive flash. Sin is not the infringement of the ethical standards of human society or of any legal injunction. Sin cuts us off from the God of Love made manifest to us as Light in Whom there is no darkness at all (cf. 1 John 1.5). To behold one’s pitiful reality is a heavenly gift, one of the greatest. It means that we have already to a certain extent penetrated into the divine sphere, and have begun to contemplate — existentially, not philosophically — man as he is in God’s idea of him before the creation of the world.” LoveLightDeathSinCreation Book:His Life Is Mine Source: His Life Is Mine